She blurted out the words before Amelia could so much as speak, and Amelia found herself touched that it was the first thought on her mind when they came together again. Amelia sighed, her arms crossing over her chest.
“Why did you do it, Effie?” she asked her, her voice cracking as she spoke. The rush of emotion caught her off-guard. She had not realized, until that moment, how deep the betrayal had run, and it seemed to fill out every inch of her as she stood before her one-time friend.
Effie dropped her head to her chest, her shoulders lilting downward.
“Because… because I could see no other way for me to support myself. To support… us.”
She planted her hands on her belly. It took Amelia a moment to understand what she was referring to, but then, her eyes widened.
“You’re…?”
“With child,” she confessed, shaking her head. “I ken, I ken. I’m no’ even married. But I… I couldnae just condemn my child to a life of struggle, like the one I had. When I heard whispers that the MacAllans were looking fer you, I… I saw a chance. And I took it. And I can only apologize, and thank God that you’re safe, after my moment of madness.”
She spoke clearly, almost calmly, though Amelia could still hear the tremor in her voice, the fear, she supposed, that what she was saying was not enough. Amelia gazed down at where her hands cupped her stomach, and she felt a deep pang of sympathy for the girl. She could only imagine how frightening it must have been, when she had found out that she was pregnant out of wedlock. How distinctly she must have known that people would turn on her when they found out that she was with child. No matter how much she tried to protect herself from it, there would be those who looked upon her as spoiled goods, and she had heard tell of women who’d been cast from their homes for daring to commit such a sin.
She took a step forward, her hand shaking slightly, and reached for Effie’s belly, gently cupping her hand over it.
“You deserve a chance,” she told her softly. “And so does your baby.”
She shook her head, hardly able to look up at her.
“No, I dinnae,” she protested. “After what I did, after what I could have condemned you to?—”
“But you didn’t,” Amelia cut her off firmly. “You didn’t condemn me to anything. I’m free. And I want the same for you. For your baby, too. I think they deserve it, if nothing else.”
Effie raised her gaze to meet Amelia, her eyes shining with tears.
“You…?”
“I’ll send for Arran to get you a home outside of the Keep,” she told her firmly. “Somewhere far from here. I don’t think you would be able to make much of a life for yourself in this place, not after what happened.”
“Everyone knows?” Effie whispered, her face paling. Amelia nodded.
“The news of it spread fast,” she replied. “But somewhere else, a little bothy in the hills… I’m sure you’d be able to make a good life for yourself, and your child. Perhaps the father, too.”
A small smile finally curled up her lips.
“Aye, I imagine I could,” she agreed softly. Shaking her head again, she looked up at Amelia.
“I dinnae ken how you could ever forgive me for what I did,” she whispered. “I deserve so much worse…”
Amelia sighed.
“Because I don’t see much good in taking revenge,” she replied. “We all have our reasons for doing the things we do, and it’s not going to help me to make you suffer. It’s not going to change what happened. And I truly don’t think you’ll ever do anything like this again, not if you know that you and your child will be cared for.”
She shook her head, almost frantic.
“Never. I only did it because I could see no other way.”
“I know,” she replied, softening. “And I trust you. You’ve made me feel safe here when I first arrived, and I want a chance to give you the same thing. To you and your child.”
She closed her eyes, and a tear streamed down her cheek. It looked shallow and sunken, probably from being locked in here all this time.
“You need to get something to eat, and some sunlight,” Amelia fussed over her. “Wait here. I’ll send someone down for you. Someone who doesn’t know about everything that’s happened.”
Effie pulled her into a tight hug, and Amelia, slightly surprised, took a moment to respond. But then, she softened into her embrace, glad for the sudden closeness. She knew she would likely not see Effie again after this, but she would be forever grateful to her for showing her such kindness, and she sent up a silent prayer that she and her child would be cared for.
Finally, she stepped out of the cell, to find Arran, still standing outside. He slipped his arm around her, pulling her in close, as they moved for the stairs.
